Lubricating device for vehicle-hubs.



No. 745,525. PATENTED DEG. 1 ,1903. A. F. ROGKWELL.

LUBRIGATING DEVICE FOR VEHICLE HUB S.

' APPLIOATION FILED 0016, 1902.

H0 MODEL.

UNITED 5 STATES i atented December- 1, 1903.

PATENT FFICE.

LUBRlCATlNG DEVICE FOR VEHlCLE-HUBS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 745,52 5, dated.December 1, 1903.

Application filed October 6, 1902- Serial No. 126,259. (No model-l ToaZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALBERT FENIMORE ROCKWELL, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Bristol, in the county of Hartford and State ofConnecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inLubricating Devices for'Vehicle-Hubs; and I do hereby declare thefollowing to be a full,cl ear, and exact description of the invention,such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains tomake and use the same.

The present invention relates to improvements in wheel-vehicles, andmore particular] y to certain improvements in coasting-and braking hubsfor said vehicles.

\Vith the introduction of ball-bearings in wheel-hubs, and moreparticularly with the introduction of brake mechanism within such hubs,it became necessary to freely lubricate the working parts. Heretofore nopracticable means has been found for efiectually lubrieating the brakeor friction surfaces without dismantling the hub, and this hasespecially been true where a thick lubricant, such as Vaseline, has beenemployed.

The object of the present invention is to arrange the axles for use inconnection with coasting and braking hubs so that a lubricant may besupplied therethrough directly to the operative parts.

To the above ends the present invention consists of the devices andcombinations of devices which will be hereinafter described and claimed.

The present invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, inwhich Figure 1 is a side elevation of a hub embodying the presentinvention and part of a wheel supported in operative position in a bicycle-frame. Fig. 2 is a central longitudinal section through the huband axle.

Like reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout thespecification and drawings.

In the drawings the invention is shown in connection with the hub of therear wheel of a bicycle, 1 indicating the rear portion of the frame, 2indicating the axle, and 3 the hub. A driver 4 is located at the end ofthe hub and has a sleeve 11 surrounding the axle and extending into thehub. A brake mechanism 5 is located at the opposite end of the hub.Ball-bearings 6 and 7 support the hub 8, and a ball-bearing 8 is betweenthe axle 2 and the driver 4, said driver being a sprocket-wheel or otherform of driving device.

The driver is connected with the hub or with and operated by thedriver-sleeve is designed to engage the clutch-face 17 on the hub or theclutch-face 18 on the brake-actuator, accordingly as the driver isturned forward or backward. This clutch member consists of a sleeve 19,which at one end is formed bellshaped or flaring, as at 20, and at itsother end cylindrical, as at 21.

The flaring end of the clutch member is interposed between theclutch-face 17 on the hub and the clutch-face 18 on the brake-actuatorand is provided with anexternal clutchface 22, designed to engage theclutch-face 17, and an internal clutch-face 23, designed to engage theclutch-facelS.

The movable clutch member is connected to the driver-sleeve by means ofan internal spiral groove 25, formed in the cylindrical portion of theclutch member, which engages an externalspiral rib 24. on saiddriver-sleeve. As the driver-sleeve is turned in a forward direction themovable clutch member will be caused to engage the clutch-face on thehub. A backward movement of the sprocket-wheel and driver-sleeve 11causes the movable clutch member to engage the clutch-face 18 of thebrake-actuator and a continuation of said movement causes saidbrake-actuator to be rotated.

The brake shown in the drawings consists of a series of leaves orsprings 32, adapted to be expanded to engage the interior surface of abrake drum or flange on the hub in order to create frictionalresistance. In the drawings I have shown six rings, though the numbermay of course be varied. Each of these rings has a small segmentremoved, forming thereby a shoulder which is adapted tobear against oneof the studs 37 and a shoulder which is engaged by one of the pivotedlevers 40, mounted on the studs 38. One end of each of these leversengages with a split ring while the other end thereof engages in agroove 43, formed in the end of the brakeactuator 16. The brake-ringsand levers are assembled between plates 33 and 34, and the studs 37 and38 are riveted or otherwise secured to said plates, whereby a compactconstruction is formed. The plate 34 has one or more lugs 45, whichenter notches in the flange of the adjusting-plate 47. Connected withthe adjusting-plate 47 is an arm 52, which extends forwardly and issecured to the frame of the machine by means of a strap 55. It will thusbe seen that when the anchoringarm 52 is secured to the frame thebrakerings 32 will be held against rotation. When the rider of thebicycle wishes to apply the brakes, he applies a back ward pressure onthe pedals, this pressure being transmitted to the driver-sleeve 11,which in turn moves the movable clutch member laterally, causing theinternal clutch-face 23 therefore to engage the clutch-face 18 of thebrake-actuator. A

continued movement rotates the brake-actuator slightly, causing one setof the walls of the slots 43 to press against the levers 40,

turning said levers about their pivots 38. Since the levers 4O engagethe free ends of the brake-rings, this movement thereof will expand therings and cause their outer surface to press against the flange or drumof the hub, exerting thereby a frictional resistance to the movement ofthe hub. All these parts are similar to those shown in my application,Serial No. 114,860, filed July 9, 1902, and are used merely for thepurpose of illustrating, forming no part of the present invention, asany form of hub or hub and brake are contemplated thereby.

The present invention consists in providing the axle 2 with alongitudinal channel or conduit or and with lateral branches b and 17,extending from the main conduit to the surface of the axle. In thedrawings the channel or conduit Ct is shown as extending axially fromone end of the axle almost to the other; but it is of course understoodthat a conduit extending entirely through the axle or two conduitsextending one from each end of the axle toward the center might beemployed to advantage.

The branch conduit 19 is located near the brake 5, so as to lead thelubricating-grease to the interior of the inclosed brake-rings 32, whilethe conduit b opens within the enlarged portion 12 of the interior boreof the driversleeve 11.

The outer end of the conduit a is provided with a screw-threaded socketc, and a screwthreaded plug d, fitting the socket, normally closes theconduit.

When it is desired to supply-the hub with a lubricant, theplug d isremoved, and the nipple of the lubricant-receptacle may then be screwedinto the socket c, and when the proper amount of'lubricant has beeninjected the nipple of the lubricant-receptacle may be unscrewed and theplug (1 put in place, the plug securely closing the end of the conduitand preventing dust from entering or lubrieating matter from escaping.It will be seen that the lubricant is forced through the main andauxiliary conduits into the brake mechanism and between the drivingsleeve and axle, all the parts of the hub and brake being effectivelylubricated.

The main conduit a acts as a reservoir, and a comparatively largeeffective quantity of lubricant is therefore utilized without causing anoverflow and consequent leakage to the exterior of the hub.

A very thick lubricant may be employed, since in applying it it issimply necessary to pack the main conduit and its branches, the heatsubsequently generated in the brake and bearings being sufficient tomelt the lubricant and cause it to flow from the conduits to such parts.

Having described my invention, I claim as new and desire to protect byLetters Patent of the United Stat es 1. The combination of a hub havinga friction-surface, a brake cooperating therewith and an axle having alubricant-conduit, said conduit being provided with an outlet adjacentthe brake mechanism, substantially as described.

2. The combination of a hub having a friction-surface, a brakecooperating with said surface and an axle having a lubricant-conduittherein extending exterior to the hub, said conduit being provided withan outlet adjacent the brake mechanism, substantially as described.

3. The combination of a hub, inclosed bearings and brake mechanismtherein and an axle having a conduit, said conduit being providedwithoutletsat points adjacentsaid bearings and brake mechanism.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ALBERT FENIMORE ROCKWELL.

Witnesses:

CHAS. T. TREADWAY, Jos. D. BROWN.

